Moscow rejects petition for gay pride march

Days after a 23-year-old gay man was brutally murdered in what Russian authorities believe to be a hate crime, Moscow city officials have denied a permit request to hold a gay pride memorial march in the victim's honor.

After filing the request on Monday, gay rights activist Nikolai Alexeyev announced a plan to hold the march for Vladislav Tornovoi, “whether authorities grant permission or not."

City officials denied the request, saying there is "no need for such events in the city," as the Moscow Times reports: